Flowers' 'Paterno-lism' Irks, Cheers Readers

Posted: August 17, 2012

TO CHRISTINE Flowers: I read your column often. I usually agree with you. This time I have a problem. When all this with the church and Sandusky investigations first started, I felt sorry for Monsignor Lynn and Joe Paterno. I looked at them as scapegoats. As both investigations continued, I learned that all they did was try to protect the church and the school. I then turned against them. What they all did had nothing to do with protecting our children. I hate to think about the many people in both venues who have known this was going on for many years. Everyone who knew anything about these assaults and never came forth, I hope your memory never lets you forget it and that God makes you pay for what you allowed to happen.

I think it's about time that Gov. Corbett, who was at the head of this investigation, is finally being brought into the fray. After all, he did bury this under the rug. This obviously was completely political, which stinks. Our kids deserve much more than that.

Rus Slawter

Philadelphia

Re: Dale English's piece, "Earth to Christine." Christine Flowers lives on the same planet as anybody who appreciates decency. For anyone to get only what Dale English got from all of Christine's wonderful columns, I say, "You better take a good look in the mirror, and you better not live in a glass house!"

I was aware that Brett Favre was involved in a seedy incident, but until I read your piece, Dale, I never would have known that he was a "deranged pervert." Thanks for sharing that with us, Ms. or Mr. Prude.

As far as Christine's other poor choice of character, Joe Paterno: Without ever meeting you, I would bet everything I own and my first born that you and your 100 best friends combined haven't done as much for so many as Joe Paterno. Besides the fact that he made Penn State a national power and that his success has a lot to do with the growth and success of an entire community, he was a man of principles. He was a man who refused to let his players put their names on the back of their jerseys because he demanded that team was more important than individuals. He demanded that his players went to class - over 85% of his players graduated, giving Penn State one of the best football-player graduation rates in the country. When he found out that he had way too much money sitting around, he donated it to Penn State with the stipulation that it wouldn't be used for sports, but for a wing to the library and a nondenominational chapel.

Nobody, myself painfully included, can defend Joe for not doing more when he could have with the horrendous Sandusky nightmare. But for you or anyone else to call Joe a "monster" is just plain idiotic and wrong. I'm sure that Joe suffered a lot more than physical pain in the last couple of months of his life. But, monsters don't live their lives like this man did.

Hell, you don't even like Christine Flowers, so what do you know?

Larry Hendel

Cape May Court House, N.J.

Miss Flowers, you are really hard to take, with your "church can do no wrong" attitude! One measly Catholic clergyman is finally convicted of hiding notorious child sex abusers and you're upset. Another abuser priest is in the paper today. Maybe you can save him from being unjustly prosecuted. I think the church got away easy. Penn State was practically torn down after its scandal.

So wise up and shut up. You're annoying.

Lynne Ciafre

Philadelphia

Lurie fury

I now know how the divorcing Luries became so rich. My son went to the first preseason game against the Steelers. They have the audacity to charge $25 to park, and it is just a preseason game. The tickets were $95 each. He came from New Jersey, so tack on another $5 bridge toll. He purchased some french fries for the ridiculous price of $8.75. Hey, Jeff, get like the Phillies and maybe have a $1 dog day.

This is one reason I won't support the Eagles, just making Mr. Lurie richer than he already is.

A disgruntled fan,

Joe Hamilton

Philadelphia

Rogue and a hard place

On Aug. 26 there will be a conference of "nonaligned nations" meeting in Teheran, hosted by the Iranian government as represented by President Ahmedinajad. Many of the attendees are friends and allies of our country.

Iran is a rogue state which seems to be lusting for a nuclear-weapons breakthrough, and has stonewalled efforts to reach any agreements that would prevent this from happening. Giving them the kind of international legitimacy that this conference brings would be a step backward in preventing the beginning of a nuclear-arms race in the Middle East.

When the world recognized South Africa as a rogue state in the apartheid era, it was denied recognition in the international arena, which resulted in a new and enlightened government. The same methods should be applied to Iran in hopes of stunting its imperial, messianic aims in the region.

At the very least, our own government should make our displeasure known in whatever way we can towards any nation or world leader granting recognition to a country that has threatened to destroy a neighboring country (Israel) and is actively assisting a fascist regime (Syria) in the continued slaughter of innocents, as well as being a repressive force in Lebanon.

I think a vigorous response is called for.

Louis Pinkett

Voorhees, N.J.

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